VIDEO: Mike Rowe takes on dirty job of comparing full-size pickups

In today's world, you'd imagine that any new full-size pickup truck can handle the daily grind with ease. And for the most part, you'd be right. But when the time comes for heavy hauling, not all trucks are created equally. Each manufacturer can probably come up with scenarios where its particular pickup performs better than the competition, but after watching Ford's video, hosted by Dirty Job's Mike Rowe, we feel that the footage offers a few compelling reasons why the Blue Oval's latest F-150 might be the pick of the litter.

Up first is the well-known rough road test, and we were shocked by how much difference there was between how the F-150 handled the exam compared to the Chevy Silverado, Dodge Ram and Toyota Tundra. You've got to watch it to see what we mean. After that is a test of fuel efficiency, and all we know about the procedure is that the most efficient engine option was chosen and, not surprisingly, the Ford came out on top. The third test involved placing a 993-pound spool of cable in the bed and running through a handling course and again, the results were enlightening. Lastly, an improperly loaded trailer was hooked to each truck and sway was induced.

In each test, the trucks were driven by a set of professional drivers, including Tanner Faust (that boy ain't right indeed), and the scenes were recorded from every conceivable angle. We're not going to suggest that these results conclusively show that the F-150 is the best truck available under all circumstances. What we will say, is that the footage after the break is certainly entertaining. Thanks for the tip, Kevin!

Reported comments and users are reviewed by Autoblog staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week to determine whether they violate Community Guideline. Accounts are penalized for Community Guidelines violations and serious or repeated violations can lead to account termination.

Anonymous

Anonymous

6 Years Ago

32 straight years of the best selling pickup truck in America has to say something about the way AMERICANS feel about the F-150. Sure no company is perfect; however we at FORD have the loyalty of quite a few people whom happen to purchase trucks. NO other company can make that statement; no other company can even come close to that type of record year after year. Oh did I mention that the F-150 was the best selling vehicle in AMERICA for 29 consecutive years! 2009 Motor Trend Truck of the Year!

Anonymous

6 Years Ago

The test looks pretty convincing but not credible. It was after all sponsored by Ford and it looks like it was heavily edited. I am sure if Dodge, Toyota or Chevy ran their own tests, they would somehow come out on top......

Anonymous

Anonymous

6 Years Ago

Seaurchin needs a hobby. Look, NYC != the rest of the country. Here, we have things called yards, trees, lakes, non-attached housing...next time a tree goes down in your yard, you let me know how much you fit in your Malibu. Next time you mulch your yard, you tell me how much it costs you to buy all your mulch in bags. Next time you go pick up a cube of bricks and 20 bags of mortar mix, you let me know how that Malibu handles it. I have a hatchback car. Gets great mileage. But short of 4-6 2x4x8s, nothing fits in it. A hopper and 30 bags of cellulosic insulation? Uh, no. 30 sheets of OSB? Nope. A few hundred sq feet of porcelain tile? Nah. A thousand sq feet of hardwood flooring? Mmmm, no. A ski boat? A dresser? A king size mattress? A ton of sand? Top soil? 3- 8ft crepe myrtle trees? Riding mower? Landscape timbers? A 12" sliding miter saw, air compressor, sewer auger, or assorted other tools that guys who like to do their own work use? No.

I'm sorry you live in cage, but out here in the great wide open, we likes us some trucks. So, you stick to paying $10 for a pastrami on rye and $6 for a decent beer, and we'll pay a couple extra hundred a year on gas. Deal?

Anonymous

6 Years Ago

Just because the people you hang out with in the city are all losers and posers who don't need a truck doesn't mean that nobody needs them. Open you mind for a moment and think about the people in Rural areas. I have an Uncle who beats his trucks to death and all his neighbours are the same. He fishes, hunts and chops his own wood to heat his home. In the process he actually does drive over dry creek beds, through rivers and up mountain logging paths that you can't call a road and no he doesn't use a Super duty for all this because he doesn't tow much. His wife owns a Hyundai Accent for driving in to town to get the groceries. No point in wasting fuel on the long drive to the city. I have another Uncle that owns his own landscaping business. Try using a van to do that job. What kind of chasis do you think is sitting underneath a full size van anyway?

Anonymous

6 Years Ago

Caddy V, i am from a country where over 50% of people buy "off road" vehicles that never go off road, and then complain about the price of gas. I am from a country where people take loans they could never pay back, and later take it out on corporations and government.

Anonymous

Anonymous

6 Years Ago

Once again SeaUrchin, I have to ask. What planet are you from? Out here in the civilized world, my Chevy dealer in particular, not only do they sell Top Kicks, they also sell pickups, Impala's, Malibu's etc. Granted, the Top Kick's are outside, but if the expanded the showroom to fit them you'd have a hissy fit for them cutting down trees for lumber and polluting the air making more steel to do so. I don't know what bug you have up your rear about people buying a pick-up with all the ammenities, but why is it any of your business? So what if they buy what they want with what they want and can afford? Who made you the options God? And this obsession you have with "fat people with double chins", and only people that buy pick-ups can't afford the mortgage, are you for real? May I make a suggestion? Take a road trip. Go out and see for yourself what real world people do with pick-up trucks. Look and see how they use them on farms, construction sites, rural areas etc. I know it might be hard leaving your rat and crime infested NYC, but try not to judge the rest of the country with your narrow minded planet Zarcon mentallity. For security concerns, don't tell any Auto bloggers who you are. I have a feeling you'd get your ass whooped by a double chinned pick-up driver.

Anonymous

Hello, i can bet a Hummer can get better MPG than Prius in certain tests. I am sure going 80-85 MPG on a highway Hummer can get darn close to Prius.

Also, as Matt said, these are real suburban trucks. There's a reason why these trucks are offered with so many luxury and comfort features. The target is NOT Joe the Plumber, the target for these trucks is Johny the double Chin, the same guy who is angry at government because HE can not afford to pay his mortgage bill, he is also knows as Johny the foreclosure.

Just for the record, Cotco parking lot is not "off roading", buying in bulk is not the same as "needing towing power" and having a wife with 2 double chins and two teenage kids who weight 400 Lbs combined does not justify buying a crew cab..........................get a Malibu.

I live in a working class neighborhood, yes we have trucks.....NOT ONE of those trucks belongs to a working guy. All the construction guys use vans (Econoline and such), all pick up trucks that i see are 100% pimped out, and are used by these wannabes with small units.

Anonymous

6 Years Ago

@ Farmboy

"Also, on the crew cab thing, I HIGHLY doubt that a family of 4 or 5 who travels to events like horse shows, fairs, etc where they participate (my family and half the effing country does as well) would much rather have a crew cab truck that can tow rather than trust a Chevy Malibu to get to the show with the horses or have a separate car and drive a separate truck to the event"---------See i am not sure a lot of people do own horses.

I live in NYC, a city where everything, all the time is either constructed or de-constructed, these workers can use trucks, but chose not too. Because no one needs all that size and power.

Farmboy, look here, you ever heard of Top Kick, its GMs real construction/heavy duty/truck division, they cater only to businesses or governments, because no one else needs these vehicles. Pick Up trucks on the other hand are sold in showrooms, because they are directed towards average Joe, not a construction worker, but bust a regular guy. Pick Ups are sold next to Caddys or Hondas for a reason.Just look at the options they offer, DVD, Leather and all that. Again, all i am emphasizing in here is that MOST (99.9999999%) of people who buy trucks do so because, they need to tow their fat wife, they need all that room for fat children and they need 4x4 do outdo other vehicles on parking lots.

Also, Malibu seats 5 people comfortable, Civic does that too by the way. So these cars can more than handle average family.

Anonymous

Anonymous

6 Years Ago

Well anemic engines is only half the story. I hate the way they look...new, ugly grille with carryover parts from the front fenders back, Ford's reliability issues, lack of customer support, dealing with the Ford dealers...the worst on the planet, lackluster fuel economy, and the size of the truck...it is way too big and heavy.

I'll stick with a truck that does everything the Ford can do...only better. The Silverado is a much better truck inside and out...which is why it is sitting in my garage. No matter how much Ford pads their towing and payload figures, it cannot hide the fact that it is an inferior truck.

Anonymous

6 Years Ago

Sorry Matt but I have to say something....

Sea Urchin or whatever the eff your name is...What in the hell kind of an argument are you trying to pull off here. You could very well have been in a remedial kid debate and lost. Your argument starts off by being bias. I have friends who have different trucks brands, and I drive a Ford. We tried this, and it turns out the Ford did in fact beat the other brands. If you were to watch the damn videos you would realize that the Chevy did come in close on fuel economy. So it is not bias. This proves how ingenuity is key to success in the truck business where Ford shows that and explains in perfect detail.

Also, on the crew cab thing, I HIGHLY doubt that a family of 4 or 5 who travels to events like horse shows, fairs, etc where they participate (my family and half the effing country does as well) would much rather have a crew cab truck that can tow rather than trust a Chevy Malibu to get to the show with the horses or have a separate car and drive a separate truck to the event. Trucks are also becoming more of a popular people mover (i.e. Chevy Avalanche, Ford Explorer Sport Trac, Honda Ridgeline).

And I am just wondering where the hell you live, Little Mexico? My dad works construction, he is a mechanic. A Econoline is not suitable to hold +$100K equipment. He needs his F550 Trust me, the only thing "pimped out" about his truck are the dually simulators on his truck. NOBODY drives an Econoline where he works. The only person I know of that drove one was my neighbor, but he needed a truck.

Anonymous

6 Years Ago

I think as soon as an F-150 was actually used for some real work, it would spit a spark plug right out of the head.

Oh wait...that already happens...

-----------------

The VAST majority of people buy trucks as a status symbol. They never see any sort of *real* work outside of a trip to Home Depot for some dirt for the wife. People buy them to shuttle kids back and fourth to school and to pick up groceries.

My CAR does more towing and all around "truck work" than most trucks sold today.

Anonymous

Anonymous

6 Years Ago

yep...a ford sponsored test shows that the....ford is the best. Odd.

Now, i dont look at trucks or shop for trucks or care for trucks but the first test is 100% irrelevant. No one is dumb enough to drive that fast over that kind of terrain. The second test has some merit, i'll give the ford the victory there, the tundra is more mainstream so it has a plusher, more body-roll inducing ride. The 3rd test...im really sure whats going on there. If the trailer is making the truck lose grip the trucks ESP/TCS etc should take over and stop the truck from sliding which will stop the trailer from sliding.

Anonymous

6 Years Ago

Its a comparison video produced by FORD. Autoblog is either purposely deceptive or plain stupid to report it as a legitimate vehicle review. And some folks on here are stupid enough to take it all seriously.

This video has as much credibility as findings from tobacco research done by RJ Reynolds. Its basically a Ford infomercial... entertaining to watch, but completely unreliable as an information source

Anonymous

Anonymous

The test doesn't necessarily show that the Ford is better than the Dodge and Chevrolet. It DOES however demonstrate just how inferior the Toyota Tundra is the other three.

In every test, the Toyota's handling is MUCH worse than the other three trucks.

The difference can be explained by the very obsolete C-channel, bolted-up frame used on the Tundra. It is very poorly designed and much less rigid than the fully box-sectioned, welded frames of the Ford, Dodge, and Chevy.

Toyota clearly cut corners on the Tundra program, and never invested in the modern hydro forming equipment adopted by Ford, Dodge, Chevy, and even Nissan for that matter.

The weak, shoddy frame on the Tundra, together with its collapsing tailgates, harmonic bed-hop problems, engine cam failures (even after the recall), transmission failures, collapsing driver seats, etc. show that Toyota is a company that has expanded WELL beyond its level of competence.

Anonymous

6 Years Ago

If you have a good product, brag about it. Never mind that the F150 also wins all of the comparisons not sponsored by Ford. People complain that Ford needs to do better advertising, and when they do, people complain about that too.